Roberto: “Deki suffered too much – he deserves to feel emotion on the pitch”
Roberto De Zerbi has spoken about the moment he was able to tell Dejan Kulusevski that he was set to be part of our matchday squad for the first time in almost 18 months.
The Sweden international, 26, such a key player for both club and country, has been laid low by a knee injury since May, 2025 – his last involvement was against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on 11 May, 2025.
Speaking at his press conference ahead of our Premier League clash against Coventry City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday evening (8pm UK), Roberto said: “Yes, Kulusevski on the bench. We had a meeting with the medical staff, they gave the okay and it's great news.
“I think it's one of the best news after Everton game last season, because Deki, he suffered too much. He deserves to feel emotion on the pitch.
“Yesterday, after the training, I spoke with him and I said to him, ‘Deki, look, I spoke with the medical staff, and they gave me the okay’ and he smiled like this.
“We are happy, we are very, very happy.
"It's not football. I'm not speaking about football. Okay, he's a special player, but we are speaking about different things. He suffered a lot and his reaction was great.”
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